Tyrone Minors set for Championship action

THE more games the better says Tyrone boss Gerard Donnelly ahead of their Ulster Minor opener against Down this Saturday in Dunmoyle in the first of four guaranteed Championship clashes.

Having put the league behind them, where they also featured in four outings, the Red Hand County are in full championship mode and face difficult encounters against Down, Donegal, Fermanagh and Monaghan in the coming weeks.

Donnelly, who took Tyrone to the All-Ireland Minor final back in 2021, is now in his fourth year in charge and guiding the future of Tyrone along with helping the players develop into county footballers still brings him plenty of joy.

Tyrone won back-to-back Ulster titles in 2021 and 2022 but loosened their grip on the provincial crown in heartbreaking circumstances last season when they lost out to Monaghan in the semi-final after a penalty shootout.
Despite the constant ups and downs that are to be expected with football at this age grade, Donnelly is still enjoying the journey and gets great pleasure out of seeing the youngsters turn into men.

“It’s brilliant getting to work with all these young lads and you just hope, you see the U20s squad now that Paul (Devlin) has, and I don’t think there’s one player on his panel that hasn’t come through a minor squad,” said Donnelly.

“Just to see those lads progressing to that level and then we’ll hopefully see them all playing senior for Tyrone as well at some stage, that’s what we’ve here for.

“We’re here to pass them on up and if you get a wee bit of short-term success along the way, it’s brilliant but ultimately you want to be going and watching those lads playing u20s and playing seniors for their county.

“That’s the role of every minor manager, to mould them as footballers but more importantly just get them into good young men that are going to represent their county, their club, their schools and represent themselves and their families the best way they can.”

Tyrone head into the Ulster Championship off the back of a six-point defeat to old rivals Armagh in last week’s Ulster League Shield final at Crossmaglen. Tyrone’s performance improved in the second half, when they held the Orchard County to just a single point late on.

But it was the first half display from Donnelly’s men that really let them down as they allowed their hosts to build up a ten-point half time lead.

Despite defeat, getting game time into the players was the main thing and they used all five of their available substitutes. Tyrone had some decent performers on the day, with centre half forward Liam McGeary chipping in with three-points while Lorcan McMurray finished the match with 0-2 to his name.

Aodhan Quinn, Shea Munroe and substitute Adam Cushnahan all raised white flags as well while at the back, the pace and direct running style of Jamie Concannon did pose Armagh some headaches, even when they were well on top.

“It’s all about getting as many games as you can and in the league, we’ve already had three games plus the Shield final so that’s eight games in total and that brings the boys on, it’s great to play eight games with your county.

“At the end of the day it’s all about development and you don’t get much development with one match. These lads now have eight games to play and that they can train for and prepare for and that brings them on to the U20s and ultimately the seniors, that’s what this competition is all about.”